Modular Short Course 131-2

During the last week of September 2017, the NATO Defense College hosted Modular Short Course (MSC) 131-2 with the aim of providing NATO officers and officials with a high-level and thematic approach to International Organizations.

Running in conjunction with Senior Course 131 (SC 131), the course is designed to consider the international security framework within which NATO operates, and to improve knowledge and understanding of the key international organizations and non-state actors that play a role in security of the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond, discussing the concept of the “Comprehensive Approach”.

This concept combines political, civilian and military instruments, building on NATO’s unique capabilities and operational experience with the ultimate goal of maintaining peace, security and stability, in full coordination with other actors.

MSC 131-2 was composed of 12 participants from nine different NATO countries.

Course Members attended lectures on: The United Nations and International Courts, by Prof Mats Berdal (NOR) and Dr Giulia Pinzauti (ITA); The European Union (EU) , by Dr Peter Van Ham (NLD), together with European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) , by Ambassador Gabor Iklody (HUN); Multilateral Governance and Cooperation Formats: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) , by Dr Sandra Sacchetti (LUX) and Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann (CHE); and Regional Organizations and their Impact on Global Security: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) , by Dr Ashley Tellis (USA) and Dr Christian Koch (DEU). Finally, lectures on Civil Society: The Evolving Role of Sub- and Non-State Actors, by Prof Raffaele Marchetti (ITA) and Dr James Munn (CAN), concluded the course.

Many opportunities for debates and discussion complemented the week’s activities.